Salinas, Calif.—Thousands of farm workers are marching in Salinas on Sunday to honor Cesar Chavez and protest against stepped up and indiscriminate ICE enforcement actions striking terror in rural communities across California and the nation. The march, one of six this month in three states, comes only six days after funeral services in Delano for a farm worker husband and wife couple killed in a car crash while being chased by ICE agents that orphaned their six children ages eight to 18.
United Farm Workers President Arturo S. Rodriguez will help lead the march, one of four planned this month in California. A fifth march takes place Sunday in the town of Sunnyside in Washington state’s Yakima Valley and a sixth is set in South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. The UFW reports stepped up activities in farm communities by ICE agents randomly targeting farm workers, often as they drive to work. The UFW and UFW Foundation are jointly sponsoring the event.
For more on the March 13 deaths in Delano of Santos Hilario Garcia, 35, and Marcelina Garcia Perfecto, 33, see: http://www.bakersfield.com/news/couple-who-fled-ice-mourned-at-delano-service/article_f05fbb46-36ab-11e8-9fa0-fbb557dbe5bc.html and http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-delano-ice-funeral-20180402-story.html
Sunday march route in Salinas: Marchers begin gathering at 10 a.m., march starts at 11 a.m. and ends about 12 noon at Cesar Chavez Park, 250 No. Madeira Ave., Salinas 93905.